Conveyer



y 1935. c. K. PEVEA'R 2,002,830

CONVEYER Filed Sept. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Shet 2 e. NTOR A TT RNEY Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT [OFFICE i i W12 m r Chase Keith Pevear, New York, Y., assignor to,

- The Lamson Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts if Application September 11,1930, Serial No: 481,149

9Claims. (c1.-19s 27) tional path of the conveyer, but all of such parts This invention relates to conveyers, and more especially to roller conveyers employing a series of rollers arranged in lateral or transverse alignment and driven in a common direct-ionto advance'a load placed thereon. Various forms of drives have been provided for roller conveyers and one of the most common includes a continuous fiat belt frictionally engaging and driving therollers from beneath. This construction has, however, been found to have various objections and limitations, partly on account of the fact that the flat belt, not being laterally flexible, do es not readily permit lateral deviation of the conveyer from a'straight path. It cannot, there-- fore, be used conveniently in other than straight conveyers. Other forms of drive heretofore available have been cumbersome and ineflicient when used to drive rollers located in curved portions .of .conveyers which bend laterally out of straight alignment. Obviously, this is a serious limitation since various obstacles and installation requirements frequently prevent the use of a' straight line conveyer and make a curved or partially curved conveyer necessary. One of the objects of my invention is to. provide an,,im proved roller conveyer. wherein the roller-drivingmeans functions to rotate the rollers in straight and curved portionsof. theconveyer with substantially equal efiiciency.

, The improved conveyer of my invention is of the belt-driven roller typeand the belt "used therein is of such character thatitmay be freely flexed laterally or vertically to follow a convoluted conveyer path and. maintainits frictional driving contact with the rollers with equal efficiency in all parts of theconveyeru As 'will be hereinafter apparent, this belt may be, round Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

in cross section or of. anyrcross sectional shape which will permit lateral flexing thereof to accomplish the desired functiQnsofthe invention.

Another object of my invention is, therefore, the

provision of an improved belt-driven roller con veyer wherein thedriving' belt is so laterally flexible as to readily follow anyipath theconveyer may take and'efliciently drive the rollers thereof throughout the length of the conveyer.

My invention moreparticularly concerns a erate more efticiently, regardless of the direc are cheaper to construct and operate than have been conveyerso'f this type heretofore known.

The provision of. such an improved construction .and novel means for. supporting the belt and maintaining, proper ,Itension thereon comprises further features of my invention.

My invention also contemplates a roller type conveyer built in the form of a continuous loop around an island or area and driven by a single continuousjbelt of theimproved typeherein defined. The conveyercan, furthermore; be built in the form of a spiral, embodying several loops all driven by a single continuous belt, thus making it possible to providea conveyer of this type leading to andfrom adjacent floors in a minibut it will be understood that the. invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construedas defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended hereto ,being'relied uponfor that purpose.

' Referring to the figures of the drawings,

jFig. 1 isadi'agrammatic plan view of a conveyer illustrating my invention;

Fig. 2 is,,,an enlarged vertical'section thereof taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is across sectionaliviewtakenon line 3-53 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a like viewtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; 5 is a like viewtaken on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Figs; '7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing the sheave-supporting brackets;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of the invention;v

Fig. l1 is a side elevation showing a modification of the rollerdrive; and V Fig-1 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l2-'-I2 of Fig. 11.

In-the drawings I have illustrated my improved conveyer, as built around an island or '1 area II], the conveyerasthus installed comprising two relativelyQlongstraight portions l2, two relatively short straight end portions I4 and four curved corner portions l5 connecting the four straight portions. The conveyer frame comprises side elements l1 between and on which are mounted conveyer rollers 18 rotatably supported by pins or rods 19, the conv'eyer frame being supported on posts IS. The rollers are arranged in relatively spaced alignment laterally of each other, parallel at the straight portions and relatively diverging outwardly at the curved portions of the conveyer.

In accordance with my invention, improved means is provided for rotating the rollers in a common direction whereby to advance loads placed thereon, this improved means being in the form of a horizontally and vertically flexible belt adapted to operate with substantially equal efiiciency at both straight and curved portions of the conveyer.

The belt 28 is continuous and in the conveyer installation illustrated it extends along the'conveyer in one complete loop. One of the main advantages of my improved belt is that it can be flexed laterally of the conveyer, it thus being adapted to follow any path taken by the conveyer. The fiat type of belt heretofore used in these conveyers will not permit of lateral flexing and I entirely eliminate this objection and limitation by employing a non-flat or generally round belt, it being understood that the belt should be constructed tofiexin two relatively right angular directions, as distinguished from the flat belt, and for this purpose it may even be square or of any cross sectional shape between. square and round. It is my intention herein that the term substantially round shall relate more to the function of permitting lateral flexure for the purpose stated than to the exact geometrical shape of the belt.

The belt is driven by a motor 22 connected through reduction gearing at 24 to a driving sheave 26 on a vertical shaft 28. Atake-up sheave 30 adapted to cooperate with the sheave 26 is mounted in horizontal alignment therewith. As illustrated in Figs. 1-6, the belt frictionally engages the lower portions of the conveyer rollers l8 and I provide grooved sheaves 32 for supporting the belt and holding it thus engaged. The sheaves are rotatably supported on brackets secured to the conveyer frame and I preferably provide differently arrangedbrackets for the different sections of the conveyer. It will be noted that the belt passes from a point 34 at the outeredge of the conveyer about the driving sheave26, about the cooperating take-up sheave 3 0, to the inner edge of the conveyen'and thence diagonally across the conveyer to the outer edgethereof. at 36. From the point 36the belt continues along the outer edge of the conveyer until it again encircles the driving sheave 26. V

The different portions of the belt require certain variations in the supporting thereof by the sheaves 32 and in accordance with one feature of my'invention I prefer to use a common form of sheave 32 and provide different formsof brackets therefor for this purpose. The cross-over portion 25a of the belt requires that the sheaves shall be located at progressively different points transversely of the conveyer. For this portion of the belt, I provide therod bracket 38 shown inFig. '7

and having two flat perforated end portions to be secured to the conveyer frame and an intermediate round portion for supporting the sheave. These rods or brackets are so mounted that they extend at right angles to the belt and, therefore, support the sheaves in alignment with the belt, the sheaves being free toadjust themselves along the rods in accordance with the position taken by the belt. The straight portions of the belt extendingin a straight direction along an'edge of the conveyer are supported by sheaves 32 carried on brackets 3E). .Each of these brackets comprises a fiat perforated portion adapted to be secured to the top of a conveyer post 56 beneath the frame ill and. a round inwardly-extending sheave-supporting portion 12. At the curved portions of the conveyer, the belt must not only be vertically supported and held in contact with the rollers but must also be laterally supported around the curve. The bracket 44 for this purpose is similar to the bracket 4B, the sheave-supporting shank portion, however, being longer and the round sheave-carrying end 46 thereof being bent to an angle of substantially It will, therefore, be seen that the belt is supported throughout the length of the conveyer by a common form of sheave and this sheave may be merely two pressed metal elements secured together as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the three'forms of brackets for supporting the sheaves in the different positions along the conveyer are not only of simple and economical construction but are also of very similar construction. The sheaves mounted on brackets 33 and 49 serve the function of holding the belt in frictional contact with the rollers i8 and these sheaves are preferably so spaced that two rollers are located between each two adjacent sheaves, thebelt thereby being held in frictional, engagement with each roller. While the principal function of the sheaves mounted onbrackets 44 is to engage the belt at its inner side and carry it around-the curve, it will be seen (Figs. 5 and 6) that these sheaves also aid in holding the belt in frictional contact with the rollers. The sheaves on brackets. 49 arernounted alternately with the sheaves on brackets 44 at the curved portions, the former serving the function above pointed out.

The horizontalsheaves 23 and 30 are necessarily located with their belt-carrying grooves slightly below the upper belt-carrying portion of the sheaves 32. For the purpose of bringing the belt into alignment with these sheaves, I provide one roller 48 of the conveyer of a larger diameter. This roller engages the two strands of the belt passing onto the sheave 26 and off from the sheave 38 and holds the same in alignment with these sheaves' For the purpose of adjusting the belt to proper tension,.'I may mount the horizontal sheave 3G for sliding adjustable movement on a supportiil, a screw 52 being provided for adjustingand holding the sheaves. Side. rails 54 may be provided on the conveyer frame wherever necessary. l I

It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of myimproved conveyer will be readily apparent. Movement of the belt in the direction indicated by the arrow will rotate the rollers in the direction indicatedand carry the load 55 along thereon. The drive at the curved portions of the conveyer is the same as at the straight portions except forthe oblique holding sheaves on the brackets 44. The belt may be of any desired. construction which will serve the function of the invention and in its preferred form it comprises ahemp core covered with a relatively thick rubber exterior. The sheaves 32 may be mounted on plain bearings, as illustrated, or ball bearings may be provided therefor, if desired, it being clear that in accordance with my invention and the use of a substantially round belt each sheave requires but a single bearing. It may be desirable to mount the oblique sheaves 32 on ball bearings on the brackets 4 so as to permit these sheaves to float and thereby automatically take a position corresponding to the pull on the belt.

Among the advantages and economies accomplished by my invention may be mentioned the following. The cost of rope belt is but a relatively small fraction of the cost of the flat belt heretofore used for these conveyers and the useful life of the rope belt should be longer. The

sheaves and brackets are standardized and are comparatively simple and much cheaper than the snub rollers heretofore used with the flat beltdriven roller conveyer. Each sheave requires but a single bearing whereas each snub roller required two bearings. In the operation of the fiat belt type of roller conveyer, nails and like foreign matter finding its way between the belt and conveyer rollers remained therein and caused considerable damage. This difliculty is eliminated in my conveyer since such material cannot remain on the belt. The driving and take-up connection to the belt are exceedingly simple and inexpensive. The lateral flexibility of the driving belt permits the conveyer to be built in substantially any shape or path desired and including a spiral arrangement extending to and between adjacent floors.

The construction of the belt will ordinarily be such that the surface thereof contacting with the conveyer rollers will flatten out on the rollers sheaves 32 hold the belt engaged with the rollers.

Ordinarily, the rollers will be driven by direct engagement of the belt with the under sides thereof but it is conceivable that in some instances it may be desirable or necessary to engage the belt with some other peripheral rotary surface of the rollers. It is also conceivable that it may be desired to drive some portion of the conveyer faster or slower than other portions. This may be conveniently done by a driving arrangement such as is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. In this case, grooved sheaves 10 relatively larger than the rollers 12 are mounted on extended ends thereof and snub sheaves 14 are provided for engaging the belt 16 between the sheaves 10. It will be clear that in this case the rollers 12 will be driven relatively'slower than are the rollers l8, which are directly engaged by the belt. Using sheaves I of smaller diameter than the rollers will obviously cause the rollers to be rotated at a relatively greater speed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A conveyer comprising a plurality of relatively spaced rollers arranged in alignment laterally of each other and including one or more portions bending laterally out of straight align ment, a belt driving the rollers by frictionally engaging the under sides thereof, and means acting, in a direction oblique to' the axis of the rollers for holding the belt in contact with the rollers at said bending portion of the conveyer, said belt being flexible in a direction laterally of the conveyer whereby to follow the bending portion thereof.

2; A conveyer comprising a plurality of relatively spaced rollers arranged in alignment laterally of each other and including one or more portions bending laterally out of straight alignment, a continuous belt driving said rollers by frictional contact, and sheaves including obliquely-supported sheaves for supporting the belt higher than its outer end.

and holding it in frictional driving contact with rotary portions of the rollers at said bending portions of the conveyer,

3. A conveyer comprising a plurality of rela- V tively spaced rollers arranged in aligmnent laterally of each other and including one or more straight portions and one or more portions bending laterally away therefrom, a continuous belt driving said rollers by frictional contact, and means including a plurality of vertically-arranged sheaves at said straight portions and a plurality of obliquely-arranged sheaves at said bending portions for carrying the belt and holding it in frictional roller-driving contact.

4. In a conveyer having a straight portion and a curved portion, a belt passing along said portions, means including vertically-arranged sheaves at said straight portion and obliquely-arranged sheaves at said curved portion for supporting the belt, and brackets secured to the conveyer and supporting the sheaves, the ends of the brackets at the curved portion being obliquely disposed and carrying the sheaves.

5. A conveyer comprising a plurality of relatively-spaced rollers arranged in curved alignmentlaterally of each other with the axes of the rollers closer together at their inner ends, a belt extending along the conveyer, and rotary means'beneath the belt and holding it in frictional driving engagement with rotary portions of the rollers, the belt extending in a continuous line along the top portions of said rotary means.

6. A conveyer comprising a plurality of rela tively-spaced rollers arranged in alignment laterally of each other, a belt frictionally engaging and driving the rollers, a portion of said belt passing diagonally across the conveyer beneath the rollers, a plurality of brackets secured to the conveyer'beneath the rollers and having intermediate sheave-supporting portions extending at right angles to the said belt portion, and

, sheaves rotatably supported on said intermediate bracket portions and holding the diagonal portion of the belt in contact with the rollers.

7. A curve for a liVe roller conveyer comprising, in combination, a pair of carrying rollers mounted with their axes at an angle to each other, a belt for driving said rollers, and a cinching-roller mounted between said carrying rollers to hold the belt in contact with the under side thereof, said cinching-roller having that-portion of its surface which is in contact with the belt positioned with its inner end 8. A curve for a live roller conveyer comprising, in combination, a plurality of carrying rollers mounted with their axes lying onradii of the curve, a belt in contact with the under side of said rollers for driving them, and a plurality of cinching rollers mounted alternately between said carrying rollers to hold the belt in driving CHASE KEITH PEVEAR. 

